Waymo announced it will offer free driverless robotaxi services to selected members of the public in Los Angeles, following approval from the California Public Utilities Commission, Reuters reports.
The service will cover a 63-square-mile area from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles, with initial rides being free. Waymo intends to gradually expand its operations in Los Angeles and transition to paid services in the future. Additionally, the company plans to extend its autonomous services to Austin, Texas, later in the year.
This move positions Waymo ahead of its rival Cruise, owned by General Motors, which faces scrutiny after an accident involving a pedestrian.
